fell behind schedule

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fell behind schedule" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe when something is taking longer than expected or is running late compared to the planned timeline. For example, "We had been working on the project for weeks, but then things started to go wrong and we fell behind schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

They were supposed to move into a $585,000 duplex apartment in June 2008, but the developer fell behind schedule.

The New York Times

But although WinFS was originally intended to be part of Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Vista operating system, formerly known as Longhorn, it was dropped as an integral element when development fell behind schedule.

The Economist

Not surprisingly, work quickly fell behind schedule.

The New Yorker

Rehearsals also fell behind schedule.

The Guardian

There were many reasons why Apocalypse Now fell behind schedule.

The Guardian - Film

As always, things fell behind schedule; no one seemed to mind.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Mr. Rabeca says maintenance workers are so consumed with restringing stolen lines that expansion of electrical service to rural Mozambique risks falling behind schedule.

The New York Times

In the next month, the production began falling behind schedule.

Wikipedia

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the negotiations have fallen behind schedule.

The New York Times

It had fallen behind schedule and was far over budget.

The New York Times

His signature policy, a plan to liberalise the electricity industry, has plainly fallen behind schedule.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about projects or tasks, use "fell behind schedule" to clearly indicate a deviation from the planned timeline. Be specific about the reasons for the delay to provide context and transparency.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses like "fall behind schedule" when referring to a past event. Ensure the verb agrees with the subject; for instance, "the project fell behind schedule", not "the projects fell behind schedule".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fell behind schedule" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a subject failed to meet its planned timeline. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. This often describes the status of a project, plan, or individual endeavor.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

18%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fell behind schedule" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that a project, task, or event is delayed relative to its original timeline. Ludwig AI confirms this and provides several examples from reliable sources, primarily in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure correct tense and verb agreement. Consider alternative phrases like "was delayed" or "missed the deadline" for variety. Be specific about the reasons for the delay to provide clear context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was delayed

Focuses on the postponement or deferment of an event or action.

experienced delays

More formal way to express that progress was slower than expected.

lagged behind the timetable

Emphasizes a slower pace compared to the planned progression.

slipped its timeline

Highlights a gradual deviation from the original planned dates.

missed the deadline

Highlights a failure to meet a specific endpoint in time.

was not on track

Indicates a divergence from the intended path or plan.

ran late

Indicates a deviation from the expected time, suggesting a general tardiness.

was behind on its projections

Focuses on unmet expectations.

failed to meet expectations

Highlights a failure to achieve the desired outcome or level of progress.

encountered setbacks

Suggests that unexpected issues arose causing lack of progress.

FAQs

How to use "fell behind schedule" in a sentence?

You can use "fell behind schedule" to describe any situation where progress is slower than planned. For example, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the project "fell behind schedule"".

What can I say instead of "fell behind schedule"?

You can use alternatives like "was delayed", "ran late", or "missed the deadline" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "fall behind schedule" or "fell behind schedule"?

"Fall behind schedule" is the infinitive form, used for general statements or future possibilities. "Fell behind schedule" is the past tense, used to describe something that already happened. For example, "We expect to fall behind schedule" (future) versus "We "fell behind schedule" last week" (past).

What's the difference between "falling behind schedule" and "fell behind schedule"?

"Falling behind schedule" describes an ongoing process of delay, while "fell behind schedule" describes a completed action of becoming delayed. For instance, "The project is "falling behind schedule"" (ongoing) versus "The project "fell behind schedule" last month" (completed).